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It’s hard to keep up these days with the rapid pace of restaurant openings and expansions in San Diego County. Budding restaurateurs and veteran operators, undaunted by a still sluggish economy, are debuting a wide diversity of new eateries, from fast casual to upscale Asian.

Here’s a preview of what’s on the immediate horizon. And please check back for regular updates on openings — and occasional closings.

The concept that originated more than three years ago in a tiny La Jolla space as house-made artisanal food for takeout has morphed into an expansive sit-down dining venue that will make its debut on Monday in Little Italy. This is PrepKitchen’s third location and by far the largest, at 5,000 square feet, seating 105. There’s also a full bar, unlike the other two restaurants.

Co-founder Arturo Kassel describes the new second-story restaurant as approaching the feel of his more upscale eatery, Whisknladle, in La Jolla.

“It’s more of a complete dining experience with a larger menu,” said Kassel. “The space horseshoes around the bar and behind the bar is an open kitchen. And we have windows all across the front so it’s great for people-watching.”

PrepKitchen Del Mar (update)

Reconstruction has yet to start on this 1,600-square-foot space that was gutted in a kitchen fire last October. Kassel says he hopes work will start within the next two months, in time for a possible reopening in May. Because the owners are reconfiguring the space to make the kitchen larger, they are awaiting approval of permits before they can begin work.

“Del Mar’s profit was allocated to build Little Italy, so when that well dried up, it put a short-term strain on the business but we’re on solid footing now,” Kassel said.

A sister restaurant to Wang’s in Palm Springs, this gargantuan 13,000-square-foot dining room opened its doors in late November but will celebrate its grand opening and Chinese New Year’s this weekend with two special events.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight, along with an all-night happy hour, passed appetizers and signature drinks. Saturday’s festivities, beginning at 6 p.m., will include a blessing by The Dharma Bums and ceremonial dances by San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers.

Housed in the former JC Penney building, the Asian fusion restaurant will soon introduce its mezzanine area, which will include a bar area and space for private parties and overflow dining.

Joel Herzer, one of the owners, said he was drawn to North Park because of its growing reputation as a dining mecca and hip neighborhood.

“Because North Park is so centrally located, we think the restaurant can draw people form other parts of the city and the neighborhood itself is becoming such a draw,” said Joel Herzer, one of the owners. “It’s become the place to be, and we wanted to be in on that.”

Fans of the vibe on La Jolla’s Wall Street and enamored with what they call upscale fast casual, La Jolla brothers Eric and Alan Adler will open their first restaurant next month. Inspired by the street food of Mexico, the new 1,700-square-foot eatery will feature preparations incorporating, seafood, chicken al pastor, carne asada, house-made salsas and some pretty unusual toppings like grilled cactus.

The chef, Luis Gonzalez, is a native of Mexico. The brothers, who invested some money of their own, brought in investors to create the restaurant. They declined to reveal the cost.

“My brother and I both went to school on the East coast, and we saw a lot of nice upscale fast casual concepts,” said Adler, 27, who had been working in real estate. “We wanted something like that in San Diego — great meals, great ingredients, and in 20 minutes.”

Bunz

Jeff Rossman, the owner of Terra American Bistro is going downscale with the opening of this casual burger and breakfast spot located in the Days Hotel in Mission Valley.

He says he has long wanted to convert his family's 31 year-old Pam Pam Cafe Grill in the Mission Valley hotel into a casual eatery where he could incorporate the same kind of locally source ingredients he's fond of using at Terra. He promises everything on the menu will be under $10.

"Terra American Bistro is the restaurant of my dreams and Bunz is following suit,” said Rossman.